Disordered eating attitudes and behaviours among older adults with type 1 diabetes: An exploratory study

Aims: We explored the prevalence of disordered eating behaviours (DEBs) and attitudes among older adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and associations with demographic and clinical variables.

Methods: Adults aged ≥65 years with T1D from a university-affiliated hospital system completed an electronic survey (September to November 2023) including the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised (DEPS-R). Clinical data were extracted from medical records.

Results: Seventy-seven older adults (mean [SD] age: 71.8 [4.1]; mean [SD] HbA1c [mmol/mol]: 51 [12]; BMI [kg/m²]: 27.3 [4.7]) with T1D completed the DEPS-R. Mean DEPS-R score was 11.5 (6.0), with 5.2% (n = 4) having clinically significant DEBs (score ≥ 20). We found a positive linear association between DEPS-R score and BMI (adjusted p = 0.002). There was no significant association with HbA1c.

Conclusions: Older adults with T1D endorsed variable degrees of DEBs. Greater DEBs were associated with higher BMI; more research is needed to characterise this relationship.